Jarawan languages
The jarawoiden languages ( short Jarawoid ) form a sub- unit of the Southern bantoiden languages , a branch of the Benue - Congo languages , which in turn belong to the Niger - Congo.
The 15 jarawoiden languages are spoken by about 300,000 people in mainly eastern Nigeria and sporadically North Cameroon. The most important language is the Jarawa with 150,000 speakers.
Position of jarawoiden languages within the Niger - Congo
- Niger - Congo > Volta - Congo > Benue - Congo > East Benue - Congo > Bantoid - Cross> Bantoid > South Bantoid > Jarawoid
Classification of jarawoiden languages
- Jarawoid Nigeria Group Jarawa (150 thousand) Dialects: Bankal, Ligri, Kanam, Bobar, Gingwak
- Labir ( Jaku ), Shiki ( Guba ), Dulbu, Gwa
- Mbonga ( Mboa ) Nagumi †, Ngong (almost †)